My first memory of WHEN YOU AND I WERE YOUNG, MAGGIE, is from a life-changing recording by Vic Dickenson on Vanguard Records — a leisurely performance featuring Shad Collins, Ed Hall, Sir Charles Thompson, Steve Jordan, Walter Page, and Jo Jones. The song was first a poem, written in 1864, and I wonder if Vic knew it from John McCormack’s recording.

I can hear Vic’s version in my head as I write these words (of course, you can find the performance on YouTube). Here’s the cover picture, which I treasure for Vic’s expression (you could write your own caption) and the matching light-blue socks:

Our business today is with the present, not the early Fifties, with living musicians who will be performing later this year in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Allegheny Jazz PartySeptember 10-13, at the Inter-Continental Hotel on Carnegie Avenue in Cleveland (very comfortable) with music from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon by some of the finest in the world.

My interest in such events has always been THE MUSIC first, talking with people I love second, but the hotel is very modern and refreshing. One could bring a friend who’s not entirely jazz-mad and (s)he would have a fine relaxing weekend as well. The AJP website can be found here.

Now for the reason for all these words. I went to my first Allegheny Jazz Party in 2004 — when it was still Jazz at Chautauqua — and it was and continues to be a high point of my year. Why? How about Duke Heitger, trumpet; Dan Block, clarinet; Scott Robinson, C-melody saxophone; Dan Barrett, trombone; Rossano Sportiello, piano; Howard Alden, guitar; Nicki Parrott, string bass; Ricky Malichi, drums . . . . playing MAGGIE:

And perhaps you have family and friends in or near Cleveland? Or you can advertise for some on Craigslist.

Tickets and prices and other necessary information here. I hope to see some of my readers there. And I will offer more sterling music from 2014 as we get closer to September 10.